What are you doing this weekend? The weather’s starting to take a turn for the better, and if your kids are like mine they can’t wait to get out of the house. Here are a few events and activities you might consider this weekend.

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St. Patty’s Day Parade (Downtown) –This weekend is the wonderful St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Festivities begin  at 11:00 a.m.  with the parade starting at Fifth and Sentinel Streets. The Parade travels west on Fifth to Plum Street.  Visit the Cincinnati St Patrick’s Day Parade web site for details.

Zing Zang Zoom (Downtown)- At US Bank Arena Friday, Saturday & Sunday – The Circus continues through the weekend!  Catch shows Friday March 12: 7:00 pm; Saturday March 13: 11:00am, 3:00pm, 7:00pm and Sunday March 14: 11:00am, 3:00pm, 7:00pm. SAVE $5* on tickets using code FAMFUN in person at the US Bank Arena box office or online www.ticketmaster.com.

St. Andrew’s Church Model Train Display (Milford) – More than 70 train enthusiasts come together at St. Andrew Church for an event that’s sure to have children in awe.  Saturday, March 13, 9:30am to 2:30pm; cost is $3, children 12 & under free.  Visit http://www.standrew-milford.org or call (513) 732-2793 for details.

1/2 Price Books Half Pint Book Drive (Florence, Kenwood, Northgate)- A fun way to teach children about giving back. This weekend drop off your gently used books and know that they’ll go to children in need. Visit Half Priced Books online for details.

Babywearing Bliss (Downtown)- Park + Vine hosts Babywearing Bliss, a free workshop on safely and comfortably carrying a baby from birth through toddler years at 2pm, Sunday, March 14th. Visit Park +Vine online for details.

Jungle Book (Clifton)- The Clifton Performance Theatre presents the Jungle Book. Children’s Repertory performances take place Saturday March 13 at 7 PM & Sunday March 14 at 2 PM. Tickets available online or by calling 513-861-7469.

Fifth Third Bank Cincinnati Home & Garden Show – (Downtown)  March 12-14 – Kids under 13 are free. Adults/$11.  Duke Energy Convention Center. Click here for more info.

The Children’s Theatre of Mason (Mason) presents Cinderella – Mason High School Auditorium.  Tickets can be purchased at the door one hour before show time. $10/person.

Whole Foods Market (Deerfield Towne Center) – Saturday, March 13 – Get Your Irish On – St. Patty’s Day Celebration Party – Noon-3pm – Free – Kid get to participate in potato stamping and face painting.  First 100 patrons arriving at Noon will get a goodie bag.

Lowe’s Build & Grow Clinic – (various locations) – 1oam - Saturday, March 13 – build a tabletop basketball goal - free bu please pre-register.

Rosenthal Next Generation Series -(Mt. Adams) – Saturday, March 13 -   ”The Stinky Cheese Man” – Cincinnati Playhouse in Park – 1o:30am & 1pm – $5/kids 4-18 and $6/adults. See our previous FFC post for more information.

Celtic Lands Culture Fest (dowtown) -Passport to the World –  Cincinnati Museum Center - March 13-14 - Activities in the rotunda are free but admission charged if you visit a museum. Enjoy singing, dancing, and more.

Pathways Concert Series (dowtown) -Magnifique –  Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Sunday,March 14 – 3pm – $5/kids, $10/adults.  Concerts are shortened and last 60-90 minutes.

Hurray for the weekend! We don’t know about you, but the visit from the sun on Thursday got our families itching to get and and enjoy the city.  As always, here are a few of our picks for fun things to do this weekend.  If you’ve got something fun on your agenda for this weekend that we don’t have listed, please leave it in the comments if it’s something you think FFC readers might enjoy too.
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CANstruction (Downtown) – Check out fun large sculptures built from canned goods at the Weston Art Gallery downtown.  Exhibit benefits the FreestoreFoodbank. Cost: Attendees encouraged to bring canned goods for donation; Hours are Sat. 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Sun. 12pm to 5 p.m. Visit http://www.westonartgallery.com for details.

Princess Tea Party (Cincinnati) - Children ages 3-8 will enjoy this magical event at Beech Acres Park RecPlex.  Fun includes treats, pretend tea and a visit from a real live princess! Saturday, March 6, 10:30 – 12pm. Cost is $15, $12 residents.  Registration required. Visit www.andersonparks.com or call (513) 388-4515 for details.

Lebanon Quilt & Fabric Show (Lebanon) - Take your children back in time to learn about the art and craft of quilting.  Show includes quilt exhibit & sales from more than 35 vendors. Benefits Warren County Historical Society. Open Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Cost is $6; for additional information visit http://www.wchsmuseum.org or call (513) 932-1817 for details.

Bead Crazy Earing Class (Springdale) -  A great way to spend the day with your daughter! Participants will learn how to make two pairs of earrings. Saturday, March 6, 10am – 3pm. Appropriate for ages 12 and up (children must be accompanied by an adult). Visit www.beadcrazygirl.com or call (513) 671-3456 for details.

Cincinnati Home & Garden Show (Downtown) – Who’s ready for spring?? Head downtown this weekend for the Fifth Third Bank Cincinnati Home and Garden Show at the Duke Energy Convention Center. Show runs this Saturday & Sunday (and next weekend too). Cost is $11 adults, children 13 and under free. For complete details visit http://www.hartproductions.com.

Jack & The Bean Stalk (Downtown) - Check out the final performance of the Children’s Theatre’s production of Jack & The Bean Stalk this Saturday, March 6th at the Taft Theatre.  Show starts at 2pm and tickets range in price from $7-$20. Visit http://www.thechildrenstheatre.com or call (513) 569-8080, ext. 10 for more information.

Percussion Group Cincinnati (Clermont County) – Music from Scratch – Part of Calico Children’s Theatre at UC Clermont College. March 5 at 7pm and March 6 at 10:30am.  $6/adults and $4/kids. More info on http://www.ucclermont.edu/collegecalendars/calico_theater.html.

Rosenthal Next Generation Series (Mt. Adams) - World of Wonder – Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park - Saturday, March 6 - 10:30am & 1pm. $5/kids 4-18 and $6/adults. Free parking.

Family First Saturday (Eden Park) - Cincinnati Art Museum - Saturday, March 6 - 1-4pm – Great free family event where you can introduce your kids to the art musuem and take part in lots of fun activities including art making, story telling, dancing, and much more.

Learning Through Play Conference (Downtown) – Cincinnati Musuem Center - Saturday, March 6 – 9:30am-4pm – Great parenting forums and interactive workshops for kids.

Madcap Puppets - Annie Oakley’s Wild West Show – Part of Xavier University’s Hat’s Off Series - March 6 & March 7. $7/ticket.

Live theatre for kids?????

Yes, where there’s a will there’s a way and the Rosenthal Next Generation Theatre series at the Playhouse in the Park makes it possible. Their 2010 season is starting this Saturday, Feb. 6. Visiting the Playhouse in the Park not only exposes your kids to a fantastic Cincinnati landmark but it also gives you a chance to see some outstanding performances that are engaging and fun for kids. There are story tellers, musicians, puppets, and more.

The performances are held in the main lobby and are best for kids ages 4 and up. Seeing one of these performances is cheaper than going to the movies and well worth it ($5/children & $6/adults, & parking is free). There are two show times – 10:30am and 1pm.

After the show, head over to Mt. Adams and go to the local United Dairy Farmers for an ice cream treat. This is a great way to create some family memories while instilling a love of the arts.

Here are the upcoming shows:

· “The Mouse That Barked & Other Delightful Tales of Good Deeds and Second Chances” – Feb. 6

· “Animalia” – Feb. 13

· Storyteller Diane Macklin – Feb. 20

· “Aesop’s Classic Fables” with the Madcap Puppets – Feb. 27

· “World of Wonder” – March 6

· “The Stinky Cheese Man” – March 13

· “An Asian Occasion of Storytelling” – March 20

· “The Garden of Rikki Tikki Tavi” – March 27 & April 3